Brad passed away from cancer on Oct. 15 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was the beloved husband of Janet (Perkins) White. Born in Boston, he was the son of William B. White and the late Jane (Jackson) White.
Brad was raised in Cohasset and graduated from Boston University in 1980, where he was a member of the sailing team. He was the team captain during 1979 and 1980, MVP and Collegiate All-American. After college, he continued to sail and maintain friendships with his teammates for the following 42 years.
Brad’s racing victories included the 110 National Championship, six Interclub Dinghy Nationals, the Mallory Cup and the US Men’s Sailing Championship. He had a variety of racing experience, from local New England PHRF races to regattas on the West Coast, Europe and offshore. Notably Block Island Race Week, Newport Bermuda Race, Marblehead Halifax Race, Kenwood Cup, Chicago Mackinac Race, Key West Race Week and Big Boat series.
He worked in the sail-making industry since 1983 and helped found and then worked at North Sails in Salem for over 27 years. He was known for the informative and entertaining talks that he gave at local yacht clubs. In 2000, when his children came of age, he helped establish the Essex Bay Sailing Club.
In recent years, he loved cruising and racing his rebuilt Pearson 33-2 Chinook in the local Thirsty Thursday series and annual Dion’s Cup with his friends. His penchant for winning races was replaced with a thorough enjoyment of teaching others to sail, as well as “wafting the fleet” with the smell of hamburgers on the grill while racing. He especially enjoyed sailing with family on Chinook.
Through the years, Brad also brought many people together with his love for the outdoors. He would organize hiking and camping trips for friends and family. As a Mountain Host at Attitash Mountain, he orchestrated the “19th Run” to gather the group.
His greatest joy in the mountains was leading his kids up Tuckerman’s Ravine, carrying their skis for their first few trips. Then they’d return to his happy place at his family’s rustic “camp” in Jackson, N.H. Most recently, he enjoyed walking in the local woods with his daughter’s dog, Blueberry.
He took pride and joy in being a father, coaching his kids through life, and showing them how to live it to the fullest, always with enthusiasm and a warm smile. His life lessons continue daily, such as: Be kind, be curious, and at the end of the day, have fun. His children will be gratefully unwrapping his life lessons for years to come. Just weeks ago, Brad was in his true element at his son’s wedding, surrounded by family and friends.
In addition to his father and his wife Janet, with whom he shared nearly 36 years of marriage, he is survived by his son, Benjamin Perkins White, and his wife Mallory; his daughter, Elizabeth Oldson White; a stepmother, Sandra Coffin White; two sisters, Melyn Robinson and her husband Fraser and Abigail Thomas and her husband Bill; two brothers, William White and his wife Pam and Andrew White and his wife Tracy; a sister and brother-in-law Pam and Dave Kipp, a mother-in-law, Phyllis Perkins and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
